APPLE VALLEY — It took two minutes for the Silver Valley offense to get going. University Prep spent the next 30 minutes looking for a way to shut it off. The Jaguars found no off switch and the Trojans ran away with a 70-17 victory in the AAE Knights Classic on Thursday.

Maazin Ahmad tore through the Jaguars (0-1), shot well from distance and was Silver Valley’s (3-0) prime offensive threat early on. He certainly wasn’t the only one, though. Khalil Gardley and Jordan Parson each showed offensive skill and the team’s ball-handling was excellent given this was only their third game of the year.

“When we’re moving the ball around like that we can do some things offensively,” said Silver Valley coach Mike Meyer. “It all starts with our defense though.”

Silver Valley took a 44-10 lead into halftime thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the second quarter. The Trojans made four 3-pointers on Friday to University Prep’s one.

Three of the Jaguars usual starters were absent from the game due to discipline issues. The players will return after missing the first three contests of the season, said University Prep coach Josh Peloza.

University Prep’s low point total had more to do with transition turnovers than with Silver

Valley’s defense. Once University Prep got its half court offense going the Jaguars looked okay, but even then turnovers bit the team, leading to Silver Valley fast breaks.

“That’s what we’re trying to do,” said Myer.

The Trojans took advantage of seemingly every one of those turnovers, too. When a pair of SIlver Valley players came sprinting down the wings on an odd-man rush, the ball ended up going through the hoop.

The Trojans are undefeated in the early going of the campaign and will play again Friday against an opponent to be determined. Thursday’s matchup was a preview of the reshaped Cross Valley League that includes Silver Valley for the first time.

Both teams turned the ball over more than their respective coaches would like and it took too long for the squads to find their offensive rhythm. Those are the kind of growing pains you expect to see in a tournament to begin the season, of course. Neither team has long to grow — CVL play begins on Dec. 13.

University Prep takes on Upland Christian at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, while Silver Valley plays a yet to be determined team on Saturday.